apture
Fort Meigs. He made a plan for the attack, and proposed it to Proctor.

"It was that the Indians should be landed several miles below the
fort, march through the woods to the road leading from the Maumee to
Lower Sandusky, in the rear of Fort Meigs, and there engage in a sham
fight. That, he thought, would give the troops in the fort the idea
that re-enforcements were coming to them and had been attacked. Then
the garrison would sally forth to aid their friends, and would at
once be attacked in their turn by Indians lying in ambush, while the
other Indians would rush into the fort and take possession before the
gates could be closed.

"Proctor consented, thinking it a good plan. On the 20th of July he
and Tecumseh appeared with their 5000 men at the mouth of the Maumee.
General Clay sent a messenger to Harrison with that news. Harrison was
doubtful whether it was Fort Meigs or Fort Stephenson they meant to
attack, so removed his quarters to Seneca Town, from which he could
co-operate with either. There he commenced fortifying his camp, and
was soon joined by 450 United States troops and several officers,
while another detachment was approaching with 500 regulars from Fort
Massac on the Ohio River.

"On the afternoon of the 25th of July Tecumseh and Proctor tried their
plan. The British concealed themselves in the ravine just below Fort
Meigs; the Indians took their station on the Sandusky road; and at
sunset they began their sham fight. It was so spirited, and
accompanied by such terrific yells, that the garrison thought their
commander-in-chief must be coming with re-enforcements and that he was
attacked by the Indians; and they were very anxious to go out to his
aid.

"But Clay was too wise to be taken in. A messenger who had just
returned from a second errand to Harrison had had hairbreadth escapes
from the Indians swarming in the woods; therefore, though Clay could
not account for the firing, he felt certain that no Americans were
taking part in the fight. Officers of high rank demanded permission to
lead their men to the aid of their friends, and the troops seemed
almost ready to mutiny because they were not permitted to go. But Clay
remained firm; and well it was for them that he did.

"A few cannon shot were hurled from the fort in the direction of the
supposed fight, and a heavy shower of rain came up. That put an end to
the fighting, and all was as quiet as usual about Fort Meigs that
night.

"T